Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed this afternoon, extending into the evening ahead of an upper level disturbance. While storms were progressive in nature, continued development and repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall over certain locations led to instances of flash flooding.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS JKL wrote it up.
Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed this afternoon, extending into the evening ahead of an upper level disturbance. While storms were progressive in nature, continued development and repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall over certain locations led to instances of flash flooding. The heavy rainfall also caused a mudslide which damaged a mobile home in Perry County. Additionally, a cloud to ground lightning strike near Somerset set a hay barn on fire.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Jackson, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 18, 3:01 PM EST, 54 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Jackson KY 401 PM EDT Fri May 18 2018 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday night) Issued at 300 PM EDT FRI MAY 18 2018 Scattered to numerous showers and storms will be ongoing across eastern Kentucky this afternoon through early this evening. This activity should taper off to isolated to scattered showers and isolated storms tonight, after we lose daytime heating. Showers and storms should begin to increase in number again by mid to late Saturday morning, as a trough of low pressure moves across the region. Locally heavy rainfall and isolated instances of flooding will be possible on Saturday, especially during the afternoon and early evening hours. The rain should steadily taper off Saturday night, as the trough moves off to our east. Temperatures will continue to run above normal, with lows the next two nights expected to fall only into the low to mid 60s, with highs on Saturday forecast to max out in the upper 70s and lower 80s. Winds should be generally light and variable outside any thunderstorms or intense rain showers. .LONG TERM...(Sunday through Friday) Issued at 400 PM EDT FRI MAY 18 2018 Mean ridging across the western Atlantic coupled with progressive flow aloft from Canada through the Tennessee Valley and a nearby frontal boundary will keep a warm and unsettled pattern in the offing across eastern Kentucky. High temperatures will continue to range in the low-mid 80s with lows generally cooling into the low- mid 60s. Despite weak upper ridging and relatively lower moisture moving in Sunday, the approach of some weak height falls and a frontal boundary combined with residual moisture will bring the chance for showers and thunderstorms through the afternoon into the evening. Increasing return flow, approach of an upper impulse pushing into the upper Midwest and Great Lakes, and proximity of the aforementioned front will bring better chances of showers and storms Monday. A northern stream disturbance rotating through Quebec by midweek will attempt to push the frontal boundary south across eastern Kentucky, creating additional shots for rainfall. May see an overall lull in precipitation later Wednesday into Thursday behind the front and ahead of a surface ridge off to the north as drier northwest flow filters in through the upper levels. However, speedy return flow via energy approaching out of the west will bring rain chances back by the end of the week. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday afternoon) ISSUED AT 133 PM EDT FRI MAY 18 2018 Expecting VFR conditions across the area as a whole during the TAF period, but any individual TAF site could experience MVFR to IFR conditions due to shower or thunderstorm activity this afternoon into early this evening. Any thunderstorms that form should dissipate by around 3Z tonight, leaving only isolated to scattered showers behind. Patchy valley fog will likely form overnight as well, but this should not affect any of the TAF sites. SCT to BKN cloud cover will persist through out the period as well, with some instances of OVC high clouds possible. Showers and storms should begin increasing in number again toward the end of the TAF period. Winds on the whole should be light and variable. Winds with any thunderstorm or intense shower could be quite gusty. && .JKL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...AR LONG TERM...GUSEMAN AVIATION...AR
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Jackson KY 355 PM EDT Fri May 18 2018 KYZ044-050>052-058>060-068-069-079-080-083>088-104-106>120-191100- Fleming-Montgomery-Bath-Rowan-Estill-Powell-Menifee-Rockcastle- Jackson-Pulaski-Laurel-Wayne-McCreary-Whitley-Knox-Bell-Harlan- Elliott-Morgan-Johnson-Wolfe-Magoffin-Floyd-Lee-Breathitt-Knott- Owsley-Perry-Clay-Leslie-Letcher-Martin-Pike- Including the cities of Flemingsburg, Camargo, Jeffersonville, Mount Sterling, Owingsville, Morehead, Irvine, Ravenna, Clay City, Stanton, Frenchburg, Brodhead, Mount Vernon, McKee, Annville, Burnside, Somerset, London, Monticello, Stearns, Whitley City, Corbin, Williamsburg, Barbourville, Middlesboro, Pineville, Cumberland, Harlan, Sandy Hook, West Liberty, Paintsville, Campton, Salyersville, Prestonsburg, Wheelwright, Beattyville, Jackson, Hindman, Pippa Passes, Booneville, Hazard, Manchester, Hyden, Jenkins, Whitesburg, Inez, Coal Run, Elkhorn City, Pikeville, and South Williamson 355 PM EDT Fri May 18 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Kentucky. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms are possible through this evening, and could produce locally heavy rainfall which could cause isolated instances of flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Thunderstorms will be possible at times from Saturday through Thursday, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. HAL/AR
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
421 PM EDT FRI MAY 18 2018
KYZ083-182045-
Wayne-
421 PM EDT FRI MAY 18 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN WAYNE COUNTY...
At 421 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Cabell, or 8
miles west of Monticello, moving north at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail are possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Monticello, Cabell, Zula, Parnell, Susie and Alpha.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3692 8496 3696 8494 3696 8492 3695 8490
3698 8486 3683 8480 3674 8501 3676 8501
3680 8502 3683 8506 3686 8506
TIME...MOT...LOC 2021Z 161DEG 12KT 3687 8500
GREIFThe Jackson,KY radar (KJKL), 47 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:52 UTC.
3 flash flood, 2 debris flow, 1 lightning, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Dispatch reported flowing water covering the road on Lick Branch near the Kentucky Highway 437 bridge in Dingus. Near Moon, heavy rainfall caused water to quickly rise and inundate area basements.
Emergency Management relayed a report of water flowing over Kentucky Route 30 near the Middle Fork of the Licking River southwest of Salyersville, making the road impassable. Road damage was also prevalent due to the swiftly flowing water.
Local media relayed a report of a hay barn set on fire by a lightning strike near Somerset.
Dispatch reported water flowing over the road between Kentucky Highway 3630 and U.S. Highway 421 east of Annville.
Dispatch reported a tree blown down onto power lines on Kentucky Highway 290 south of McKee.
Local media reported a mudslide near Leatherwood, resulting in damage to a trailer below the falling mud and water.
A local media outlet reported a mudslide, resulting in a downed tree across a roadway south of Viper.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kentucky in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Kentucky, May 2018
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 745485, 745486, 745484, 745487, 745488, 745661, 745662.